Chevrolet Impala Complaints (2003)

695 consumer complaints on file.

#10235271July 22, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT BOTH CAN COME ON AT INTERMITTENT TIMES. BOTH HAPPEN WHEN TURNING INTO OR BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IN ANY SORT OF WEATHER INCLUDING PERFECTLY DRY CEMENT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS LEAD TO ACCIDENTS WITH INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET THE FULL BREAKING POWER WHEN MAKING TURNS. THIS HAPPENS ALSO WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS AROUND ANY CORNER. THE PROBLEM IS NOW HAPPENING ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME WHEN MAKING TURNS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE MY FRONT HUBS AS WELL AS THE WIRING HARNESSES BUT I HAVE BEEN READING UP ON IT AND HAVE SEEN THAT NONE OF THOSE THINGS HAVE WORKED FOR ANYONE AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO COME BACK AFTER SPENDING OVER $1000 DOLLARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234820July 18, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY SECURITY LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH THEN EVERYTHING WENT CRAZY FROM THERE LIGHTS BLINKING ON AND OFF DOORS LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THEN THE RADIO WILL SHOW LOCKED ON IT TRUNK WILL OPEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WOULD START ON COOL DAYS NOW THAT IT HAS TURNED HOT IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. I HAVE READ ALL KINDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS MATTER THIS ISSUE REALLY NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO AND ISSUE A RECALL I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS DEALERS TELL ME IT IS A BCM AND IT WILL COST APPROX 500.00 IF SO MANY OF THESE IMPALAS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING OR TELL SOMEONE HOW TO FIX THIS WITHOUT PAYING 500.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234036July 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SECURITY LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, DOOR LOCKS WON'T WORK, SOMETIMES CAR WOULDN'T START. SECURITY SYSTEM IS BAD. HAD TO HAVE A NEW IGNITION SWITCH. CAR STILL WON'T START. NOW NEEDS A BODY CONTROL MODULE. CAR STILL AT MECHANICS. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR FOR 60 DAYS. UNSURE WHAT BILL IS UP TO. CAR WOULD START OVERHEATING. OCCURRED 3-5 TIMES BEFORE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND FIXED. IT WAS THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. REPLACED IT FOR AROUND $600.00. HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. MECHANIC AND DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHY. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CAR WOULD START KNOCKING AND RIDE ROUGH TO THE POINT THAT IT COULDN'T BE DRIVEN. IT OCCURRED 2 TIMES ON DIFFERENT BOLTS. ROCKER ARM BOLTS WERE BLOWN OUT OF THE HEAD. FIXED FOR $300.00 EACH TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233322July 6, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA THAT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS NOT STARTING. MY WIFE HAS BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES AND WHEN I WOULD ARRIVE THE CAR WOULD START. I STARTED HAPPENING EVERY TWO WEEKS OR SO NOW IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE USE THE CAR. IF YOU IT SET FOR 10 TO 30 MINUTES IT WILL START. I HAVE FOUND THAT IF YOU REMOVE THE FUSE TO THE BCM FOR ABOUT 30 SEC THE CAR WILL START . I HAVE READ SEVERAL WEB SITE ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAY THAT COST $500 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED BY A DEALER. I BELIEVE THAT WITH AS MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THERE SHOULD BE A INVESTIGATION WHY GM ISN'T RECALLING CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232651June 29, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO MY 2003 IMPALAS HEAT GAUGE STARTED ACTING FUNNY LIKE THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING BUT THEN IT WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL. IT WAS COOL OUT ABOUT THAT TIME OF YEAR AND I ALSO NOTICED THE CAR HAD NO HEAT. I REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM BUT IT DID NOT HELP AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. MY HUSBAND THEN NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW AND ADDED MORE. THAT ALSO DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AND ABOUT A WEEK LATER WE NOTICED THE COOLANT WAS LOW AGAIN. WE LOOKED FOR THE LEAK AND COULD NOT FIND ONE. I FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY AUTOMATICALLY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND STATED IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 3400 SERIES ENGINE. WE PAID NEARLY $700 TO HAVE THE CAR FIXED. I HAVE RECENTLY NOTICED THAT MY COOLANT LEVEL AGAIN IS LOW BUT CAN NOT DETECT ANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS AS BEFORE, I STILL HAVE HEAT AND A/C AND THE HEAT GAUGE IS NOT FLUCTUATING BUT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AROUND AT RECALLS SOME FORUMS ABOUT THE SAME TYPE OF CAR AND HAVE DISCOVERED MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME TROUBLE, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE 3400 SERIES MOTOR AS THERE IS FOR THE 3800. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232337June 26, 2008
EQUIPMENT
DURING OUR VACATION ABOUT 200 MILES FROM OUR HOME, WITHOUT WARNING, OUR 2003 IMPALA LS WITH 114K MILES STARTED RUNNING VERY BADLY. AFTER GOING TO SEVERAL REPAIR SHOP AND 8 HOURS LATER RODNEY'S MUFFLER IN MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FOR A VERY REASONABLE PRICE AND WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT YET. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON EMISSION PARTS AND WONDER IF THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232207June 24, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WOULDN'T START AT RANDOM ON DAY, WOULDN'T CRANK, SECURITY LIGHT WOULD FLASH WHEN KEY WAS TURNED TO ON, TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE PASSLOCK SENSOR AND IGNITION SWITCH. ABOUT A WEEK LATER DID THE SAME THING, NO CRANK AND SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING, THEY REPROGRAMMED IT AGAIN AND SAID THAT THE BCM MIGHT BE GOING OUT. DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS, THEN IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. CAR SAT FOR ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY JUST HAD TO JUMP THE CAR AND IT STARTED. AFTER I GOT IT BACK THE THIRD TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THE AUTO LOCKS AND HEADLIGHTS DID NOT WORK. NOW ABOUT 3 MONTHS LATER, CAR IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231448June 18, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE MECHANIC CALLED TO FILE THE COMPLAINT BECAUSE THE CONTACT DOES NOT REMEMBER MOST OF THE DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CONTACT, A POLICE OFFICER, WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARDRAIL ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND ROLLED OVER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229870June 4, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY TWO LANE HIGHWAY AT 4:00 AM MY HEADLIGHT SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I COULD NOT GET THEM TO TURN BACK ON, AND COULD NOT SEE WHERE I WAS AT ON THE ROAD. I DID MANAGE TO SAFELY PULL TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD, AND AFTER TRYING SEVERAL THINGS TO RESTORE LIGHTS, I WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE DIMMER SWITCH BACK AND GET HIGH BEAM LIGHTS. I WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE MY TRIM TO WORK, USING ONLY HIGH BEAMS. EVERY TIME I TRIED TO USE LOW BEAMS THE LIGHTS WOULD COMPLETELY GO OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228719May 23, 2008
TIRES, TIRES:VALVE
I BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES AT SEARS IN WLILMINGTON, N.C. LAST MAY, I HAVE PUT LESS THAN 12,000 MILES ON THESE TIRES. BEGINNING IN ;APRIL OF 08, I STARTED TO NOTICE A LOW TIRE AND PROCEEDED TO THE STATION TO PUMP IT UP. AS I WAS PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRE I HEARD AIR ESCAPING AND MOVED THE VALVE STEM AND IT WAS LOOSE. I PUT ENOUGH AIR IN IT TO GET AROUND THE CORNER TO THE SERVICE STATION AND HE SAID IT WAS THE STEM. I WAS TRYING TO DECIDE HOW I WAS GOING TO AFFORD A NEW TIRE AND HE SAID THAT HE COULD REPLACE THE VALVE STEM. HE CHARGED ME $10. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT THREE WEEKS LATER AND THEN AGAIN THIS WEEK, MAY 21! THREE TIRES OUT OF FOUR HAVE HAD THE STEMS REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING OVER 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO A TIRE, I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE STEMS COULD BE REPLACED. I CALLED SEARS AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING A RECEIPT FOR FIXING THE TIRES AND THEY WOULD REFUND THE MONEY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228754May 23, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW, SUSPENSION, STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. 3,000 MILES AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE SHE HAD BRAKE FAILURE. ON APRIL 8, 2003, DEALER REPLACED REAR ROTORS, NOV. 19, 2003 FREED UP SLIDERS, MARCH 26, 2004 FULL ROTOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED IN FLORIDA, JUNE 7, 2005 COMPLETE BRAKE CHANGE. AUG. 16, 2005 RESURFACED BRAKES AND ROTORS, JAN. 16, 2006 REFACED REAR ROTORS, JUNE 30, 2006 REPLACED REAR ROTORS AND REFACED FRONT ROTORS, JAN. 10, 2007 RESURFACE WORK NEEDED TO BE DONE BUT DID NOT PERFORM REPAIRS, MAY 23, 2007 REPLACED ALL 4 ROTORS. THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, MAY 22, 2008, REPLACED REAR PADS AND SERVICED CALIPERS. THE DEALER WILL NOT MAKE ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIRS AND FEEL AS THOUGH THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN TO REMEDY TO FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3259 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50295. UPDATED 7/3/08 *CN THE PASSENGER SEAT HEATER AND REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER WERE INOPERATIVE. THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING. THE DEALER LUBED THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. THE REAR STABILIZER SHAFT AND LINK WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 07/15/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227977May 16, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVING AT NIGHT USING THE AUTO HEADLIGHT FUNCTION, THE HEADLIGHT FAIL (QUIT) ON HIGHBEAM. AT 75 MPH THIS CAN BE A LIFE THREATENING EXPERIENCE, I WAS LUCKILY ON A STRAIGHT ROAD AT THE TIME. WHEN IT HAPPENED I TRIED TURNING THE LIGHTS ON WITH THE SWITCH, PUSHED AND PULLED IT AND THAT DID NOT WORK. I CAME TO A STOP AND WAS GOING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 9 TIMES. IT ONLY DOES IT ON HIGH BEAM SETTING, IT HAS NOT DONE IT WHEN THE SWITCH IS PULLED TO THE "ON" POSITION AS OF YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227910May 15, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA INVOLVED IN FRONT END COLLISION INTO THE SIDE OF A 2000 CHEVROLET CORVETTE. IMPALA AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH THE FRONT AIRBAGS ON THE CORVETTE DID. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10227211May 10, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PASSLOCK SYSTEM ON 2003 IMPALA KEEPS LOCKING OUT THE FUEL SYSTEM KEEPING THE CAR FROM STARTING. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED FOR THIS REASON, NOW IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226965May 7, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
MY 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA THE SPEEDOMETER READS 140 MILES AT ALL TIME OR SHOWS NOTHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226290April 30, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
MY IMPALA BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE THERMOSTAT READING GOING FROM COOL TO HOT EXTREMELY QUICK AND THE RED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THESE VEHICLES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD ISSUES AND THAT THIS IS THE CAUSE OF MY PROBLEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT CHEVROLET IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND STILL REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $1,500.00 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND IF REPAIRS ARE NOT MADE, THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE A SLOW LEAK OR EVENTUALLY, THE ENGINE WILL GO COMPLETELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225329April 22, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I RECENTLY FOUND THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILS ON THE CHEVROLET 3.8 V6 AND THAT CHEVROLET HAS KNOWN OF THE PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I TRAVEL CROSS COUNTRY REGULARLY IN MY 2003 IMPALA WITH THE 3.8 ENGINE AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE WILL FAIL ON THE HIGHWAY AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. BEFORE I KNEW THAT GM WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM I OWNED A 2000 S-10 PICK UP AND HAD THE GASKET REPLACED FOR OVER $700 DOLLARS. I NOW FACE THE SAME EXPENSE OR MORE TO FIX THE IMPALA. I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD HAVE RECALLED AND FIXED HIS PROBLEM BECAUSE HEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECT IN THE GASKET AND PLASTIC COOLANT PART GOING THROUGH THE VALVE COVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223779April 9, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS SHUT OFF. THE FIRST FAILURE, THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE SECOND TIME, THE CONTACT COULD ONLY USE THE HIGH BEAMS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222935March 31, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
2003 CHEVY IMPALA -- INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET -- TOLD FACTORY PUTS ON PLASTIC ONES THAT DO NOT LAST, CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE AND POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR IF NOT CORRECTED IN TIME - DID NOT SEE ANY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE -- WHY??? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222287March 25, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS FAILED AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MODULE AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURENCES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,100 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,047. UPDATED 05/21/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP REAPIRED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 05/20/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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